With the season drawing to a close........

I'm too fat for my wetsuit. For practical purposes, I suppose, I'm already wearing one :) It can make a big difference. In 2008 I raced more triathlons than open water and weighed 168 (very light for me). A couple of the swims were in 60° water including one that I was in the water for almost 2 hours. I definitely felt cold when I got out of those. In fact in the longer one I experienced getting cold inside for the first time as warm blood rushed to the surface. A very weird feeling. Last year I only did OW races and my training was limited by injuries. I bloated up to 192. I swam in one race at 57° and again was in the water for almost 2 hours. When I got out I was not cold at all. Fat does make a huge difference. Next year I'll be racing on the lighter side early in the season and then putting on some insulation for a Catalina attempt in September.

I'm too fat for my wetsuit. For practical purposes, I suppose, I'm already wearing one :) It can make a big difference. In 2008 I raced more triathlons than open water and weighed 168 (very light for me). A couple of the swims were in 60° water including one that I was in the water for almost 2 hours. I definitely felt cold when I got out of those. In fact in the longer one I experienced getting cold inside for the first time as warm blood rushed to the surface. A very weird feeling. Last year I only did OW races and my training was limited by injuries. I bloated up to 192. I swam in one race at 57° and again was in the water for almost 2 hours. When I got out I was not cold at all. Fat does make a huge difference. Next year I'll be racing on the lighter side early in the season and then putting on some insulation for a Catalina attempt in September.